WASHINGTON D.C. — Vice President-elect J.D. Vance is resigning from his seat representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate, effective Friday at the stroke of midnight.
The first-term senator has to resign from his seat before he and President-elect Donald Trump are sworn into office on Jan. 20.
Trump and Vance defeated the Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the Nov. 5 general election.
Vance made his intentions known in a letter Thursday to Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who will choose his successor.
“As I prepare to assume my duties as Vice President of the United States, I would like to express that it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Ohio in the Senate over the past two years,” Vance wrote in his official letter of resignation, effective Jan. 10.
In an additional statement specifically to his Ohio constituents on Thursday, Vance offered “heartfelt gratitude.”
“When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day,” he said.
“The American people have granted President Trump an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad,” he continued. “Over the next four years, I will do all that I can to help President Trump enact his agenda.
“Together, we will make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.”
DeWine has said he would make the appointment once Vance vacates the seat. DeWine was at a governors’ event with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening, making it unlikely he would announce an appointment before Friday.
Whomever DeWine appoints will serve until December 2026. They would need to run again for the remainder of the term in November 2026.
They would then have to run again in 2028 for a full six-year term.
DeWine’s decision has the potential to impact the race for his replacement as governor, which term limits dictate must be chosen in 2026.